RapidKL
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| Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (RapidKL) |
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| Type | Private limited |
| Founded | July 2004 |
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Area served | Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| Key people | Suffian Baharuddin, CEO |
| Industry | Public transportation operation |
| Products | Light rail, public buses transportation |
| Owner | Ministry of Finance, Malaysia |
| Website | http://www.rapidkl.com.my |
RapidKL, short for Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd is a government-owned company which was formed in 2004 as part of the restructuring of the public transport system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital.
RapidKL, which is 100%-owned by the government, is the operator of Kuala Lumpur's two light rail transit (LRT) lines, is the largest stage bus (regular or trunk bus route) and feeder bus operator in Kuala Lumpur, and, as of November 2007, operates the single line of the KL Monorail.
All assets of the RAIL and BUS service is owned by another government-owned company, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) which was also formed under the restructuring process.
RapidPenang, which was set up as a subsidiary of RapidKL, began running bus services in Penang on 31 July 2007. This effort is part of the Malaysia government's move to revamp the bus service in Penang which has been suffering from many problems.
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[edit] RapidKL services
[edit] Rail
RapidKL RAIL operates two rail lines.
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The entire rail network operated by RapidKL Rail is 56km long and has 49 stations. In 2005, these two lines carry a total of over 300,000 passengers daily.
[edit] Bus
RapidKL is also the largest bus operator in the Klang Valley. Currently, there are 98 stage bus routes and 39 feeder bus services which operate from LRT stations. The bus routes operated by RapidKL were previously operated by Intrakota Komposit Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of DRB-Hicom Bhd; and Cityliner Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Park May Bhd. In 2005, RapidKL buses carried around 190,000 passengers daily.
RapidKL is however not the only public transport operator in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. Other rail-based services, such as KTM Komuter, KL Monorail, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit are operated by other companies. There are also many other bus operators such as Metrobus, Len Seng Omnibus Co. Ltd., and Selangor Omnibus Co. Ltd.
[edit] Public transport restructuring in Kuala Lumpur
The need for Kuala Lumpur's public transport system to be revamped became apparent almost immediately after the LRT lines began commercial operations when their ridership was much lower than anticipated. This caused lower than expected revenue levels and the two LRT concessionaires, Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd (Star-LRT) and Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik Sdn Bhd (Putra-LRT), could not repay their commercial loans. The financial crisis of 1997/1998 aggravated the situation. The two companies owed a total of RM5.7bil as at November 2001 when the government's Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee (CDRC) restructured the debts of the two LRT companies.
The bus service in Kuala Lumpur was also facing problems with lower ridership because of an increase in private car usage and lack of capital investments. The two new bus consortia which were formed in the mid 1990s to take over all bus services in Kuala Lumpur - Intrakota Komposit and Cityliner - began facing financial problems. Intrakota had reportedly accumulated losses amounting to RM450mil from the 1997/1998 financial crisis until SPNB took over in 2003.
With lower revenue, the bus operators could not maintain their fleets, much less invest in more buses. Frequencies and service deteriorated as buses began breaking down.
Public transport usage in the Klang Valley area dropped to about 16% of all total trips, one of the lowest in the Asian region.
[edit] Some important dates connected with the revamp
- In 2001, CDRC successfully restructured the two LRT companies' RM5.7bil worth of debts through the issuance of government-guaranteed bonds by SPNB.
- On 1 September 2002, SPNB officially took over LRT operations of Star-LRT and Putra-LRT
- In October 2003, SPNB bought over Intrakota Komposit and its subsidiaries from DRB-Hicom for RM177mil. It also paid RM14mil cash for the 364 buses belonging to Cityliner. The original companies were appointed interim operators.
- In November 2004, SPNB handed over the operations of the LRT and bus services to RapidKL.
- In January 2006, RapidKL began the first phase of a massive revamp of its bus network in the Klang Valley.
- On 23 September 2006, Phase One of Klang Valley's bus network revamp was completed.
- On 19 February 2007, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the bus network in Penang will undergo a revamp. A day later, Malaysian Finance Minister parliamentary secretary Hilmi Yahaya said the new entity will be named RapidPenang.
- On 25 February 2007, Malaysian Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop said 150 buses, at a cost of RM50mil, will make their first appearance on Penang roads in August 2007.
- On 31 July 2007, RapidPenang began operations after being launched by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
[edit] Steps to improve service
Since taking over the LRTs and bus network, RapidKL has taken steps to improve their service.
- Increasing LRT capacity: RapidKL and SPNB have issued tenders for the purchase of new LRT rolling stock to increase carrying capacity. Tender resulted expected in March 2006.
- Boosting bus fleet: As most of the buses RapidKL inherited were old and poorly maintained, one of its immediate concerns was to get more buses on the road. In 2005, the government promised RapidKL 200 new buses.
- Increasing bus routes: RapidKL has put on several new routes to serve areas which never had bus services.
- Scheduled bus services: RapidKL introduced scheduled services for 16 routes which are not heavily utilised. For the first time in Malaysia, expected bus arrival times and timetables were put up at bus stops along routes.
- Common monthly passes for both LRT and buses: This is the first time commuters have monthly passes which can be used on both LRTs and buses, helping to enhance integration of the public transport system.
- Common signage for all three LRT lines: The renaming of Putra-LRT and Star-LRT together with the changing of its signage will help enhance integration of the previously unconnected systems.
- Common Ticketing System Touch 'n Go can be used in all RapidKL buses and rail lines
- Revamp of RapidKL bus network: RapidKL scrapped the old Intrakota and Cityliner routes it inherited and introduced three types of bus services: City shuttles (BANDAR), trunk buses (UTAMA),, local shuttles (TEMPATAN), and express buses (EKSPRES). City shuttles will operate within Kuala Lumpur's central business district while trunk buses will link hubs at the edge of the CBD with suburban transportation hubs. At these suburban hubs, local shuttles will radiate out from rail-based public transport stations and fan out to residential areas. Express buses provide non-stop point-to-point route to specific destination.
[edit] Management team
- Chief executive officer: Suffian Baharuddin
- Chief operating officer (rail): Nor Hassan Ismail (formerly Ridza Abdoh Salleh, who became UEM Buildings Bhd managing director at the end of 2005)
- Chief operating officer (bus): Mohd Ali Mohd Nor
[edit] RapidKL BUS routes
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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